According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today almost half a million (477,800) people experienced a work-related injury or illness during the year ending September 2000.

This represents 5 per cent of the 9,687,300 people aged 15 and over who had worked at some time during that period.

Work-related injury or illness rates (per thousand people aged 15 years and over who had worked at some time during the 12 months ending September 2000) were:

60 per 1,000 males;

36 per 1,000 females;

70 per 1,000 males aged 35-44 years; and

41 per 1,000 females aged 35-44 years.

Other findings on people who had experienced a work-related injury or illness in the 12 months ending September 2000 include:

6 per cent were not working at September 2000;

89 per cent were employees in the job where they experienced a work-related injury or illness;

More than twice as many males (323,900) experienced a work-related injury or illness as females (154,000).

Less than half (40 per cent) of the 477,800 people who experienced a work-related injury or illness received workers' compensation for their most recent work-related injury or illness.

Of the 259,900 who did not apply for workers' compensation nearly half (49 per cent) said the main reason they did not apply was that they considered the injury or illness to be minor. Over half (54 per cent) of those who did not apply for workers' compensation did not receive any financial assistance for that injury or illness. Of the 46 per cent who did receive financial assistance, the most common sources were Medicare and employer provided sick leave.

Further details can be found in the publication Work-Related Injuries, Australia, September 2000 (cat. no. 6324.0). If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication contact the ABS bookshop in your capital city.